Our Misson

David's senseless and brutal murder occurred while he was hiking his favorite East Bay Parks trail. Our parks are right here in our own backyards and have generally been our safe havens. But sadly they too have now become part of the broader reach of violent crime.

The mission of the davidruenzel.org website is to raise awareness of David's yet unsolved murder, to help make our community safer, and to honor David. Please join with us to work with our local communities and agencies to make our parks -- and our world -- a safer place.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated to the East Bay Regional Parks Foundation in David's name. For those still wishing to do so, we recommend you specify your check be applied to the improvements in public safety getting underway in the East Bay Parks, including plans for more video cameras in park parking lots.

Events

David Ruenzel was an education journalist and teacher who spurred both national debate and reform, who challenged convention yet championed the classics of English literature—but always with a good-humored irreverence.

A published author, essayist and poet, words were his oxygen, ideas his abiding intellectual and emotional sustenance, and solitude in nature his time for reflection.

​Two days before Thanksgiving (2014) -- and just months after the birth of his first grandchild -- David was hiking a trail in the Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve in the East Bay near his home when he was shot and killed.

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About David

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​​​Please gather with us at the Huckleberry Preserve Parking Lot at about 12:30 pm for a 1 PM walk start-time on the "Huckleberry Path," on Skyline Drive in Oakland. The spot where David’s hike came to its tragic end (on Nov. 25, 2014) is just half of a mile down the trail — an easy walk, almost entirely flat, but with one series of not-terribly-difficult steps. We want to honor David and we also want to keep the story of his (unsolved) murder alive. The parking area is small, so please carpool if possible; and we'd be grateful to get a rough headcount in advance, so if you could take a moment to RSVP now with the number of people in your group, just click the "GET INVOLVED" button at the top of the page. Thank you!

davidruenzel.org

David Ruenzel Memorial Hike

Feb. 1, 2015 Sunday 12:30 PM

​​Click the "Get Involved" button at the the top right of this page to RSVP

If you are a Facebook user, you are welcome to join the Facebook Group “Remembering Dave Ruenzel”​​ set up by David's students. Just email us at info@davidruenzel.org to request an invite to the group. There you can read Athenian School student, parent, friend and teacher remembrances of David and post your own comments, if you wish.